Respite South - Disability Resources

There are services to help if you are supporting someone with a disability. The following information and links may be useful. Please phone us on 1800 052 222 if we can help you with a resource or query.

(Please note this information appeared in its original format on the Respite South website. Information on the Respite South website moved to Carer South in July 2017 due to sector changes ahead of the NDIS rolling out in the southern metropolitan region).

Brotherhood of St Laurence is the Local Area Coordination (LAC) Service and Early Childhood Early Intervention Service (ECEI) for Bayside Peninsula

The role of the LAC and ECEI services is to assist people to navigate the NDIS. As a part of these services, they will provide planning and coordination for people with disability to maximise choice and control over the services they use. This includes supporting people with disability to navigate mainstream services and increase their capability to be an active part of their community. ECEI services will specifically support children 0-6 years with a disability or developmental delay. Phone 1300 275 63 and email ndis.info@bsl.org.au.

Organisations assisting with NDIS transition

Time for a Break

Carers who live in Southern Melbourne will find helpful information in the publication Time for a Break. The publication has been produced by MOIRA since 1991 and is a guide to respite care for people with disabilities and their families. You can access Time for a Break online 24 hours a day at moira.org.au. The online version includes links so you can access service providers directly. Read Time for a Break.

Carers Victoria

Carers Victoria is a not-for-profit organisation which provides advice, information and support to carers to improve their health, wellbeing, capacity and resilience. www.carersvictoria.org.au

Local Councils

Respite is available in many forms. Your local Council is a key contact if you are seeking respite in the home, or to ask about any other services they offer.

Services will vary between Councils. Contact your Council to discuss the available options. Below is a list of telephone contacts for each council in the southern metropolitan region:

Through the Maze

The Association for Children with a Disability publish Through the Maze. This handy booklet includes information about services and supports for children with a disability and their families living in Victoria. You can download a copy from the Association for Children with a Disability website.

Regional Quick Guide - Southern

The Regional Quick Guide complements the Through the Maze booklet, available from the Association for Children with a Disability. It has contact details for local services and supports.You can download a copy from the Association for Children with a Disability website. (Link opens in PDF.)

Rebates and financial assistance information

This resource has been compiled by Alfred Health Carer Services to assist carers of children with a disability but some of the information will be relevant to others also. It contains a range of information gathered from public domains about the various medical and allied health rebates available, as well as some other forms of available financial assistance. You can read the latest copy here.

Alphabetical list of supports:

Amaze: is the peak body for autism in Victoria. They offer regular information sessions for parents and carers at their office in Carlton. www.amaze.org.au

Aspect (Autism Spectrum Australia): offer two day intensive workshops for parents and carers of someone on the autism spectrum up to age 25, as well as Early Days webinars for parents and carers of a child with autism aged 0 –7. www.autismspectrum.org.au

Association for Children with a Disability: offer a range of parent-led information sessions upon request. These are free for parent support groups. www.acd.org.au

Brainlink: supports the families and friends of those who are living with an acquired brain disorder arising from stroke, head injuries, or brain tumour, as well as progressive neurological diseases. They offer a range of social activities that people with brain disorders can enjoy with their family and friends, as well as specific activities for carers. www.brainlink.org.au

Cerebral Palsy Support Network: Offer a range of information and other supports to parents and carers of someone with cerebral palsy. www.cpsn.org.au

Down Syndrome Victoria: is the peak body for Down syndrome in Victoria. They offer a regular information series for parents and carers at their office in Fitzroy. They also run a network of support groups statewide and can put you in touch with other groups in your area. www.downsyndromevictoria.org.au

Genetic Support Network: provides a point of contact for individuals and families seeking information and support about genetic conditions. They also maintain a large list of condition - specific support groups. www.gsnv.org.au

Irabina Childhood Autism Services: works with families of children on the autism spectrum, across the eastern and southern regions. They have a comprehensive education and training calendar for parents as well as for professionals, in both their Bayswater and Pakenham locations. www.irabina.com to find out more.

MS Australia: Offers services to people with MS, family members, friends and carers. They also have a carer support program in the southern region, run in collaboration with Brainlink. www.mssociety.org.au

MyTime: MyTime groups provide support for mothers, fathers, grandparents, and anyone caring for a child with a disability or chronic medical condition. Please visit www.mytime.net.au for more information, including how to find a group.

Parkinson’s Victoria: People with Parkinson's, their carers, friends and family are all welcome at the many support groups around Victoria. There are at least four in the southern region. There are also regular education events. Young At Park (Y@P) is a social group especially for people living with Young Onset Parkinson’s, and their families. Visit: www.parkinsonsvic.org.au

PlayConnect: PlayConnect playgroups are part of the Helping Children with Autism package. They offer play activities suited to the needs of children aged 0-6 years with ASD or ASD like symptoms but are not early intervention therapy. Find out more at: http://www.playgroup.org.au/Old-Site/Programs/PlayConnect.aspx

Positive Partnerships: delivers the two components of the Helping Children with Autism package implemented by the Australian Government Department of Education. These include face-to-face two-day workshops and online learning which presents self-paced learning about supporting school aged children with autism . Visit their website to find out more: www.positivepartnerships.com.au/

Windermere: offers a range of disability services in the Casey-Cardinia-Dandenong area. They also run regular Resilience for Life programs. This is an interactive program for adults living with disabilities, or carers of people living with disabilities, to increase positive coping skills to better navigate challenging life experiences, and effectively manage the associated feelings – to be resilient for life. www.windermere.org.au

Yooralla: offers the Breakaway Flexible Respite program in the eastern and southern regions. This has short term funding for planned respite. Visit www.yooralla.com.au or call 9831 5600.